Labyrinth seal with variable tooth heights

Abstract

A labyrinth seal for a gas turbine engine is provided. The labyrinth seal includes a stator and a rotor spaced apart from the stator. The rotor includes a first tooth at a first side having a first radial height, and a second tooth between the first tooth and a second side. The second tooth has a second radial height that is different than the first radial height. The rotor includes a third tooth between the first tooth and the second side having a third radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height. A first clearance between a first tip of the first tooth and the stator is different than a second clearance between a second tip of the second tooth and the stator, and a third clearance between a third tip of the third tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A labyrinth seal for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 a stator coupled to a non-rotating portion of the gas turbine engine and fixed in an axial direction and a radial direction, the stator including a layer of abradable material extending uniformly in the axial direction from a first stator side to an opposite second stator side; and 
 a rotor coupled to a rotating portion of the gas turbine engine so as to be spaced apart from the stator in the radial direction, the rotor having a first side adapted to receive a fluid flow and an opposite second side, the rotor including a first tooth at the first side having a first radial height, a second tooth between the first tooth and the second side, the second tooth having a second radial height that is greater than the first radial height and a third tooth between the first tooth and the second side having a third radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height, a first clearance between a first tip of the first tooth and the stator in the radial direction is different than a second clearance between a second tip of the second tooth and the stator in the radial direction and a third clearance between a third tip of the third tooth and the stator in the radial direction is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
 
     
     
       2. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the third tooth is between the second tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the second radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the second clearance. 
     
     
       3. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the third tooth is between a fourth tooth and the second side, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the second radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the second clearance. 
     
     
       4. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second tooth is between the second side and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       5. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the third tooth is between the second tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       6. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second tooth is between the third tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       7. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second clearance is less than the first clearance. 
     
     
       8. The labyrinth seal of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first tooth is inclined in a direction toward the fluid flow. 
     
     
       9. A labyrinth seal for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 a stator coupled to a non-rotating portion of the gas turbine engine and fixed in an axial direction and a radial direction, the stator including a layer of abradable material extending uniformly in the axial direction from a first stator side to an opposite second stator side; and 
 a rotor coupled to a rotating portion of the gas turbine engine so as to be spaced apart from the stator in the radial direction, the rotor having a first side adapted to receive a fluid flow and an opposite second side, the rotor including a first tooth at the first side having a first radial height, a second tooth between the first tooth and the second side, the second tooth having a second radial height that is greater than the first radial height, and a third tooth between the first tooth and the second side having a third radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height, a first clearance between a first tip of the first tooth and the stator in the radial direction is greater than a second clearance between a second tip of the second tooth and the stator in the radial direction and a third clearance between a third tip of the third tooth and the stator in the radial direction is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
 
     
     
       10. The labyrinth seal of  claim 9 , wherein the third tooth is between the second tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the second radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the second clearance. 
     
     
       11. The labyrinth seal of  claim 9 , wherein the third tooth is between a fourth tooth and the second side, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the second radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the second clearance. 
     
     
       12. The labyrinth seal of  claim 9 , wherein the second tooth is between the second side and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       13. The labyrinth seal of  claim 9 , wherein the third tooth is between the second tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       14. The labyrinth seal of  claim 9 , wherein the second tooth is between the third tooth and a fourth tooth, the fourth tooth having a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
     
     
       15. A labyrinth seal for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
 a stator coupled to a non-rotating portion of the gas turbine engine and fixed in an axial direction and a radial direction, the stator including a layer of abradable material extending uniformly in the axial direction from a first stator side to an opposite second stator side; and 
 a rotor coupled to a rotating portion of the gas turbine engine so as to be spaced apart from the stator in the radial direction, the rotor having a first side adapted to receive a fluid flow and an opposite second side, the rotor including a first tooth at the first side having a first radial height, a second tooth between the first tooth and a third tooth, the second tooth having a second radial height that is greater than the first radial height, the third tooth between the second tooth and a fourth tooth, the third tooth having a third radial height that is substantially the same as the first radial height, a first clearance between a first tip of the first tooth and the stator in the radial direction is greater than a second clearance between a second tip of the second tooth and the stator in the radial direction and a third clearance between a third tip of the third tooth and the stator in the radial direction is substantially the same as the first clearance. 
 
     
     
       16. The labyrinth seal of  claim 15 , wherein the fourth tooth has a fourth radial height that is substantially the same as the second radial height and a fourth clearance between a fourth tip of the fourth tooth and the stator is substantially the same as the second clearance.